Changes to PE and Sport Premium

A new partnership network will replace the grant currently provided to schools.

The Department for Education has said the new scheme will run from spring 2027, bringing targeted support to primary and secondary schools based on their needs. However, the new arrangement will attract around 22 per cent less annual funding than the current scheme.

The new scheme could include providing new coaches, top-up swimming lessons and increased extra-curricular activities to meet local demand. Schools will also be able to access a universal offer, which will include online training.

Rather than money flowing directly to schools as it does now, a national delivery partner will deliver this support.

There will also be £200 million in capital funding for school sports facilities and a one-off £100 million for schools to help them during the transition to the new system.

There is concern that at a time when budgets are under huge pressure, schools will lose a well-established funding stream and schools and will therefore need assurances that these networks will reach every part of the country and that all the funding will get to the frontline and not be spent on new layers of bureaucracy.

The Association for Physical Education, welcomed the news “We are encouraged to see progress towards a long‑term vision for PE and school sport. We hope today’s announcement marks the beginning of greater stability and long‑term planning for schools.”

The PE Premium was introduced in 2013 as part of the London 2012 Olympic Legacy. There was concern that this funding was being misused by schools and that there needed to be further scrutiny.